Pan Asian Repertory Theatre's 38th Season Benefit Dinner & Celebration Set for Tonight

This fall, PAN ASIAN REPERTORY THEATRE will celebrate the start of its 38th season with a benefit dinner to be held tonight, November 6 at the Golden Unicorn (18 E Broadway at Catherine Street) in Chinatown.

PAN ASIAN REP will salute the 21st Century ILGWU Heritage Fund, whose mission is guided by the legacy of the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union, which was founded in the early 20th Century to promote and secure the fundamental democratic and human rights of workers and their families, especially the most vulnerable: immigrant, women and low-wage workers. The award will be accepted by the Fund's President, Jay Mazur. The company will also salute Wallace Wong a producer whose credits include the musical revue, VIVA GYPSY, starring Phyllis Diller, Authur Dong's award winning documentary, "Forbidden City USA," and a documentary based on the book "Albert Einstein on Race and Racism;" a performer with his cabaret partner Roz Dunn; and a community advocate who worked extensively with his sister, Jadin Wong, in helping Asian American performers. Wong is also a champion of Pan Asian's re-envisioning of the musical SAYONARA.

PAN ASIAN will honor the legacy of the late musician, composer and activist, Fred Ho in an in memoriam tribute. Called "the greatest baritone saxophonist of all time" by The New Yorker, Ho founded and led The Green Monster Big Band, and merged art and politics while innovating a cutting edge Afro-Asian aesthetic. He recorded more than 15 albums, wrote several critically acclaimed operas, music/theater epics, multimedia performance works, scores, oratorios and a martial arts ballet, and books. Ho's award will be accepted by his colleague, the artist, poet and educator dequi kioni-sadiki. The evening will conclude with a salute to the veteran artist, Henry Yuk, who was among the first actors to work with PAN ASIAN REP at its formation in the late 70's, and has performed in numerous productions, including YELLOW FEVER as Chuck Chan, and the comedy MOM, DAD, I'M LIVING WITH A WHITE GIRL. Yuk also has extensive film and TV credits including "Eyewitness," "The Last Dragon" which has since become a cult classic, General Tan in Martin Scorsese's "Kundun," and Sung Yon Kim in the "Sopranos." Yuk's salute will be preceeded by introductory remarks by Broadway and Pan Asian veteran artist, Raul Aranas.

The evening will be emceed by veteran artist, Ron Nakahara, and entertainment will include "The Dance of the Fans" from SAYONARA, featuring Tsubasa Ogawa, Rumi Oyama, and Hiroko Yonekura, as well as photo tributes and remembrances of past productions.

The dinner opens at 6pm with drinks and appetizers, and continues with traditional Chinese banquet and presentation to salutees. It will benefit PAN ASIAN REPERTORY's 38th milestone season that will focus on building bridges, and include the New York premiere of FILM CHINOIS, a noir mystery by Damon Chua in the vein of classic Hollywood films. which is set in Peking in 1947, to be presented January 17-February 8, 2015 at Theatre Row; and special performances of NO-NO BOY adapted from the John Okada novel, written by Ken Narasaki. More information on 38th season programs at www.panasianrep.org.

Tickets are $150, tables begin at $1,500, and sponsorship begins at $2,500. Call 212-868-4030 or visit www.panasianrep.org to purchase.